Terence Mukasa
Health minister Dr Kalumbi Shangula and Vice President Nangolo Mbumba yesterday received Pfizer booster shots at the Windhoek Central Hospital.
Shangula, who is vaccinated with AstraZeneca and Mbumba (Sinopharm) had received their first vaccines in May.
Shangula told New Era for one to receive the booster shots, they should have been vaccinated with the first and second shot of any type of vaccination, as they all serve one purpose.
However, the booster shot can be mixed and does not depend on any type of first and second shot one has.
Another possibility, according to Shangula, is that if the first dose was AstraZeneca, one can receive Pfizer as the second and third dose.
At the same event, Mbumba urged citizens to be vaccinated because the vaccines are safe.
“Everyone above the age of 60 should take the booster shots because we need to stay healthy, as we are now going on family vacations and not to inconvenience our own families,” said Mbumba, who was joined by his wife Sustjie.
He said misinformation and conspiracy theories around vaccines and its manufacturers should be ignored by the public.
Namibia has vaccinated only around 21% of its population, and only 749 people (by yesterday) have taken their booster shots since it became available a few weeks ago.
“The world cannot put up trained and skilled doctors, build hospitals and clinics just to endanger the lives of the people… we all need to believe in our country and in the health system of our country,” he added.
Shangula had indicated the ministry offers voluntary administration of the third dose of homologous vaccines, which is the same type of vaccine for Sinopharm, AstraZeneca and Pfizer BioNTech, to eligible individuals.
Shangula earlier this week said if an individual has been vaccinated with Sinopharm, they can get Pfizer as the booster shot and those with two doses of AstraZneca can also get Pfizer as the third dose.